Consumers Associations of Bangladesh (CAB) vehemently protested against a surge in the price of bottled water without any prior announcement.

The sudden increase is absolutely unfair, unreasonable and goes against the interests of consumers, they said.

They were addressing a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Tuesday. The issue of the price rise came to light after the Daily Sun on August 31 ran a report headlined ‘Water as pricey as milk!’

At the event, the organisation made a four-point demand. They include immediate cancellation of the unreasonable and unfair price hike, ensuring access to safe water at affordable price for all, active involvement of the Competition Commission, the Directorate of National Consumers' Rights Protection (DNCRP) and all the ministries concerned in the efforts to normalise the price of bottled water and punishment of the business organisations that have abruptly increased bottled water prices.

Speakers at the event said the price has increased at a time when the prices of daily essentials keep soaring. There is no answer as to why the price of water has suddenly gone up so much, they said.

The maximum retail price for 500-millilitre bottled water is now Tk 20 while it was Tk 15 a few days back.

On the other hand, the wholesale price for 500 millilitre bottled water is Tk 11-12, meaning a profit of Tk 8-10 is being made from each bottle, which is higher than usual.      The CAB members further said the Competition Commission has learned about the unusual increase in the price of bottled water through the news published in the newspaper. They are investigating it and have also informed the Ministry of Commerce and the DNCRP.

The water market in the country is now worth around thousands of crores of taka. Each year, 35 to 40 crore liters of bottled water are sold. The demand for bottled water is increasing at a rate of 15 to 20 per cent every year. Most companies producing consumer goods now have water businesses.

Among others, Vice-president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh SM Nazer Hossain, and President of CAB Dhaka District Committee retired Brigadier General M Shams A Khan spoke at the programme.